The Theslar Event - Ground Zero

"At the top of the world, reality screamed. We heard it in our bones, in our souls. And we've been hearing it ever since." -Unknown Survivor, Year 0

Detail	Information
Location	Arctic Circle, 89.5° N, 142° W (North Pole region)
Date	Year 0, Day 0, 14:32 UTC
Site Name	"The Scar" / "The Wound" / "The Engine's Grave"
Crater Size	23 miles wide, 4 miles deep
Casualties	182 at Theslar Station + 6.7 billion within first week

Geographic Note: The Sibarian Wastes

In this world's geography, the northernmost polar region—what pre-Sundering maps called the "North Pole" or "Arctic Circle"—was known as Sibaria. After the Theslar detonation transformed the region into a frozen, Void-corrupted wasteland, survivors began calling it the Sibarian Wastes.

The terms "Arctic," "Sibaria," and "Sibarian Wastes" all refer to the same polar region at coordinates 89.5° N. Pre-Sundering scholars used "Sibaria" and "Arctic" interchangeably; post-Sundering inhabitants call it the "Sibarian Wastes" or simply "the Wastes."

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The Detonation Site

Theslar Research Station (Year -5 to Year 0)

Pre-Sundering Function: Remote Arctic research facility built on ice shelf, 2,400 miles from nearest settlement. Population of 182 souls: 127 scientists, 43 support staff, 12 security personnel.

Purpose: Testing the Theslar Engine prototype, classified as "clean energy research" but actually attempting wireless power transmission via resonance frequencies.

Why the North Pole? Intentional isolation ("in case of failure"), minimal magnetic interference, access to deep ice core samples, proximity to magnetic north pole. Theslar believed polar conditions would "stabilize resonance frequencies."

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Timeline of Catastrophe

Time (UTC)	Event
14:15	Final activation sequence begins. Engine reaches 40% power (normal parameters)
14:28	Power surge detected. Engine jumps to 87% in 4 seconds (uncontrolled acceleration)
14:32:00	DETONATION: Engine breaches 100%. Arctic ice shelf vaporizes (12 square miles). All 182 souls at station consumed instantly
14:32:03	Void breach opens. Reality tears. Electromagnetic pulse expands at light speed
14:32:45	Magnitude 9.4 earthquake epicenter at Ground Zero. 214 volcanoes erupt simultaneously
14:45	Crimson Aurora manifests (permanent, visible globally)
15:30	First Void incursion. Abominations emerge from the Scar

"It's not generating power...it's amplifying something already there. Something vast. Oh god. It's singing. IT'S SINGING..." -Dr. Nikolas Theslar, Final Transmission

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Immediate Global Impact

Geophysical Catastrophe (First Hour)

Magnetic pole shift: North magnetic pole moves 847 miles south in 8 minutes
Tectonic destabilization: Void energy disrupts Earth's core, triggering global earthquakes
Volcanic awakening: 214 dormant volcanoes erupt simultaneously worldwide
Tidal disruption: Polar ice vaporization triggers 200-foot tsunami in Arctic Ocean

Atmospheric Chaos

Ash and debris ejected into stratosphere (begins global "Ashfall Winter")
Polar vortex collapses (Arctic weather patterns destabilize)
The Crimson Aurora: Permanent red aurora forms over detonation site (visible from equator)
Void radiation spreads via upper atmosphere (global corruption begins)

Technological Collapse

EMP disables 94% of electronic devices globally within 3,000-mile radius
Power grids cascade-fail within 6 hours
Modern civilization effectively ends in first 24 hours

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The Scar (Year 437 - Current State)

Physical Description

Massive crater: 23 miles wide, 4 miles deep, flooded with Void energy (glowing purple-black liquid, not water).

The Engine Remnants: Twisted, damaged remains of the Theslar Engine stand at the crater's center, still pulsing with Void energy after 437 years. Though shattered by the detonation, its corrupted core continues to function. Reality is unstable around it...space warps, time dilates, physics breaks down.

The Crimson Aurora

Permanent aurora borealis centered over the Scar, visible from anywhere on Earth. Cultural landmark and constant reminder of humanity's failure.

Red (stable Void activity)
Purple (Void storm brewing)
Black (incursion imminent)

Danger Level: Forbidden Zone

No faction controls the Scar (too dangerous to approach)
Void radiation lethal within 50 miles
Abominations spawn constantly from Void breach
Rare expeditions return with Void-corrupted minds... or not at all

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Faction Perspectives

Faction	Name for the Scar	Belief
Church of Absolution	"Theslar's Scream"	Divine punishment. Pilgrimage = ultimate atonement (death expected)
Dwarven Forge-Guilds	"The Cascade Breach"	Engineering failure. Studying Engine remnants might prevent repeat
Elven Verdant Covenant	"The Wound"	Ecological catastrophe. Scar bleeds Void corruption into world
Crucible Packs	"The First Forge's Scar"	Sacred site. First Forge deity has physical manifestation there
The Ossuarium	"The Ledger's Opening"	Beginning of their power. Thresh founded Ossuarium during chaos

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Theories About the Engine

Can the Void Be Closed?

No one knows. Destroying the Engine might seal the breach... or widen it. No one has survived close enough to attempt sabotage.

Current Year (437): The Void grows stronger. Abomination incursions increase in frequency. Some factions believe "the end is approaching." Others seek to harness Void power through dangerous experiments.

"437 years since detonation. The Void breach shows no signs of closing. The Engine still hums. Some believe the Scar will expand until it consumes the world. Others believe it's already consumed the world...that reality is just a Void-corrupted dream."

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Explore Further

Topic	Description
The Theslar Engine	Current state of the Engine, gameplay mechanics, faction endgames
The Sundering	Full timeline of the Cataclysm and global impact
The Void	Void corruption, Abominations, Taint mechanics
Year 0 Timeline	Hour-by-hour account of the first days after detonation

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